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The race is on to see how much the near-record snow will last. At this point, however, it's definitely Spring in the Western U.S. . I must say that this kind of Spring suits me a lot better than the hot and humid imitation that is so commonly touted in the East.

I must say that this kind of Spring suits me a lot better than the hot and humid imitation that is so commonly touted in the East.

I know your definition of humid is a bit broader than mine, but I don't think spring gets much in the way of humidity even for your standards except for short interludes. At least here, and mostly true for NYC / Long Island as well. The hottest days of the spring (and the majority by a large margin) we get all tend to get lowish dew points (< 55°F). One must wait till summer for the hot + humid combination.

Part of what I was talking about is that in the Eastern U.S. in Canada "Spring-like weather" is touted by the heat-mongers when it's hot and humid. Heat and humidity of the type that's common in severe thunderstorm outbreaks is peddled as "spring-like" by the media.

That said, Spring in your location doesn't average humid, but even in Southeastern Canada there are humid periods that occur, and this is true of most of the Eastern U.S. as well.

The Southeast is of course quite humid, with the entirety of the region being well within the 50F dew point line in May. It stretches as far north as Indianapolis to Philadelphia, and my trusty dew point maps show a standard deviation of about 9F for the region. So there is plenty of humidity to go around even in the more marginal regions. All of the Deep South averages 60F or more for dew points, and 70F dew points are often seen in April and May there. 60F dew points are often seen as far north as the places in the East that average a dew point of 50F in May.

One of my points is that when it does get humid and warm/hot, "Spring-like" is the byword that is used, whereas when it turns cooler and drier they say "back to winter" or some such, claiming that isn't Spring-like.

In your location you escape all that, with your dew points averaging in the mid 40's this time of year. Standard deviation is about 9F, so the highest dews typically seen would fall just short of 60F, with more humid conditions occurring in "short interludes". NYC is pushing the boundary more than your location, but there is a huge bubble of often-occurring humidity that exists in the East in April and May. The East is a lot more than New England - there is a huge land area east of the High Plains that gets more humidity than Massachusetts gets this time of year.

In any case it can't compare to the Western norm of dews well below 40F and more frequent spring snowfalls.

Part of what I was talking about is that in the Eastern U.S. in Canada "Spring-like weather" is touted by the heat-mongers when it's hot and humid. Heat and humidity of the type that's common in severe thunderstorm outbreaks is peddled as "spring-like" by the media.

I suspect you live in very different place from me. Anywhere I've lived (Long Island, Upstate NY and Massachusetts) that weather would be described as "summer". Doubt that would true in Canada.

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The East is a lot more than New England - there is a huge land area east of the High Plains that gets more humidity than Massachusetts gets this time of year.

True, but I think much of what you said applies more to the South a specific region rather than the East in region. Anything south of say Pennsylvania is either in the south or very close to the south. Also, once we look at the second half of May we are getting towards to the edge of spring conditions; weather patterns are starting to transition to more of a summer patten (going not just by temperature but temperature fluctuations and rainfall/jetstream patterns). Look at mid-spring, say April DC is well below an average of 50°F dewpoint (2012 averaged 38°F, 2011 averaged 46°F).

Or perhaps we're just listening to different outlets of information . Or maybe we could chalk it up to the difference between the interior East and the East Coast .

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True, but I think much of what you said applies more to the South a specific region rather than the East in region. Anything south of say Pennsylvania is either in the south or very close to the south.

Perhaps that is true, and most of that region is in what could be considered "the south". However, I think considering the midsections of Indiana and Illinois to be in the South or very close is a stretch. It is also not uncommon for this sort of weather to stretch into places like Chicago and the entirety of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. That is why the humid area has a more "Eastern" than "Southern" appearance to me.

That, plus when there is a big outbreak of humidity in springtime the current dew point maps usually feature a plume of humidity in the East stretching in a more north-south direction than an east-west direction, though average maps will obviously feature east-west orientation.

As to May being more part of summer than spring in "the East", that is one of the primary reasons I initially labeled the cooler/drier/snowier Western version of Spring as being superior.

So sweet... and whats make it even better... Untouched snow trails. I love reading hiking stories(especially with pictures!)

Favorite lines.

" Crossing a couple snow gullys we left the road bed and started our ascent up sometimes 50 degree slopes taking turns breaking trail through the 12 inches of fresh snow. The going was slow with full packs in the light falling snow and dense fog."

"4:30 came quick under clear skies and crisp air, we made a quick breakfast and hurried on to the saddle."

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